Harsh Winds: Contested Indigeneous Rights in Energy Projects in Kenya and Sweden

Ilse Maria Renkens

Harsh Winds: Contested Indigeneous Rights in Energy Projects in Kenya and Sweden

Publikation: Bog/antologi/afhandling/rapport › Ph.d.-afhandling

Abstract

Som en del af den grønne omstilling er en overgang til vedvarende energi endelig i gang. Ikke alle drager samme fordel af denne omstilling. Oprindelige folk har i stigende grad og i en uforholdsmæssig skala set deres landområder blive udpeget til områder for minedrift af overgangsmineraler og opførelse af energiinfrastrukturer. Samtidigt oplever indfødte folk en øget sårbarhed over for følgerne af klimaforandringerne. I internationale fora, hvor vigtige beslutninger træffes om store globale udfordringer som klimaændringer og tab af biodiversitet, bruger indfødte folk sloganet "intet om os uden os". Men på trods af statslige myndigheder og virksomhedsaktørers forpligtelser til normer for oprindelige folks rettigheder udelukkes oprindelige folk og deres viden ofte fra beslutningsprocesser, der påvirker dem. Dette sker på globalt, nationalt, lokalt og projektniveau. Afhandlingen undersøger denne kløft mellem rettigheder på papir og rettigheder i praksis. Der argumenteres for, at normer for oprindelige folks rettigheder ikke er fastlagte; reelt fortsætter konflikter om dem efter de er blevet institutionaliseret i traktater, erklæringer eller forretningsstandarder, og bryder ud under projektimplementeringen, hvilket resulterer i variationer i normpraksisser.

Gennem studiet af to store onshore-vindprojekter, Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP)-projektet i Marsabit County, Kenya, og Markbygden-projektet i Norrbotten, Sverige, spørger denne artikelbaserede afhandling, hvordan centrale aktører i disse projekter forstår og udfordrer normer for oprindelige folks rettigheder, og hvilke mangler i normimplementeringen der kan følge.

Afhandlingen har til formål at belyse, hvordan indfødte folk kæmper for at opnå respekt for deres rettigheder fra staten og virksomhedsaktører, der i høj grad kontrollerer implementeringen af deres rettigheder. Den har specifikt fokus på retten til fri, forudgående og informeret samtykke (FPIC), her forstået som en grundlæggende konfliktfuld og kompleks menneskerettighedsnorm.

Ved at bidrage med dybdegående diskussioner af, hvad normer som FPIC betyder i praksis gennem en original sammenligning af sager i den globale nord og globale syd, udfylder afhandlingen en videnskløft i forskningen og bidrager med vigtige indsigter. Metodologisk udpeger afhandlingen et behov for at se ud over opdelingen mellem det globale nord og syd, da den viser, at respekt for oprindelige folks rettigheder ikke bør tages for givet noget sted, selv i lande der eksplicit anerkender sådanne rettigheder. Denne konklusion bidrager til teorien ved at afsløre grænserne ved anerkendelse- og procedureretningslinjer inden for energiretfærdighedsrammer. Den udfordrer også opfattelsen inden for forskningen i normlokalisering om, at normimplementering er mere sandsynlig, når den 'passer' til den kontekst, den introduceres i.

Artikel 1 undersøger LTWP-sagen, mens artikel 2 undersøger Markbygden-projektet, og artikel 3 er et sammenlignende casestudie. Alle artiklerne anvender litteraturstudier, dokumentanalyse og interviews som metoder. I alt blev der gennemført 54 interviews og 14 uformelle samtaler med lokale oprindelige folk, (internationale) ikke-statslige og civilsamfundsorganisationer, akademikere, konsulenter, projektinvestorer samt lokale, regionale og nationale myndigheder. Derudover bidrog to måneders feltarbejde i Sverige til analyserne i artikel 2 og 3. Desuden blev indsigter fra online og personlig deltagelse i forskellige arrangementer anvendt i hele afhandlingen.

De empiriske resultater fra de tre artikler fører til den konklusion, at mens mangler i rettighedsimplementering delvist kan forklares med manglende viden og erfaring med implementering af oprindelige folks rettigheder, er de også politisk motiverede

Originalsprog	Engelsk

Udgivelsessted	Roskilde
Forlag	Roskilde Universitet
Antal sider	236
Status	Udgivet - 2024

Navn	FS & P Ph.D. afhandlinger
ISSN	0909-9174

Bibliografisk note

Hovedvejleder: Lars Buur (RUC)
Bivejleder: Lars Engberg-Pedersen (DIIS)

Citer dette

@phdthesis{03bcf75070b346b8af42706a7bf9999b,

title = "Harsh Winds: Contested Indigeneous Rights in Energy Projects in Kenya and Sweden",

abstract = "As part of climate mitigation, a renewable energy transition is finally underway. The transition does not provide equal benefits to everyone, and it disproportionately impacts Indigenous Peoples lands and resources. Despite commitments to Indigenous rights norms from state authorities and corporate actors, Indigenous Peoples and their knowledge are often sidelined in decision-making processes that affect them. The article-based dissertation examines this gap between rights on paper and rights in practice through the study of two large-scale on-shore wind projects: the Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) project in Kenya and the Markbygden project in Sweden. It asks how key actors – e.g., local Indigenous People, project investors, state authorities, civil-society organizations – in these projects understand and contest Indigenous rights norms, and what shortcomings in the implementation of norms may ensue from such contestations. It has a particular focus on free, prior and informed consent (FPIC), a complex, contested Indigenous rights norm.ConclusionsThe dissertation illustrates that norms are not fixed; conflicts over norms persist and arise even after their institutionalization in treaties, declarations, or business standards. For instance, the sometimes-vague requirements of FPIC allow state and corporate actors, who control discursive, material, or institutional resources of power, the discretion to appropriate FPIC to suit their interests, resulting in variations in norm practices. Shortcomings in the implementation of Indigenous rights norms, due in part to lack of knowledge of and experience with them, may thus also be politically motivated. Indeed, rights norms are not a cure-all, as their impact to a large extent depends on who controls their implementation. In both the LTWP and Markbygden cases, FPIC was not respected, indicating that respect for Indigenous rights should nowhere be assumed. Theoretically, this finding challenges the notion within norm localization research that norms are more likely to be implemented when they {\textquoteleft}fit{\textquoteright} the context into which they are introduced.Recommendations It is key that no one is left behind in the energy transition. To that end, state authorities, developers, and investors must ensure proper consultation, consent, and address the long-term needs of local populations in renewable investments. Impact assessments should reflect in depth understanding of the local context, including colonial legacies, and consider cumulative impacts of existing and planned projects. Furthermore, it is important to remember that rights on paper may not be implemented, consultations alone do not constitute FPIC, and corporate social responsibility programs and compensations cannot compensate for rights violations. While this is especially important to consider when operating on the margins of the state, this applies in the Global North and South alike. There is thus a need to look beyond the Global North-South dichotomy. To prevent Indigenous Peoples from bearing the brunt of climate change and its mitigation, Indigenous rights, including their rights to self-determined development and FPIC, must be respected.",

author = "Renkens, {Ilse Maria}",

note = "Supervisor: Lars Buur (RUC) Co-supervisor: Lars Engberg-Pedersen (DIIS)",

year = "2024",

language = "English",

series = "FS & P Ph.D. afhandlinger",

publisher = "Roskilde Universitet",

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T1 - Harsh Winds

T2 - Contested Indigeneous Rights in Energy Projects in Kenya and Sweden

AU - Renkens, Ilse Maria

N1 - Supervisor: Lars Buur (RUC) Co-supervisor: Lars Engberg-Pedersen (DIIS)

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - As part of climate mitigation, a renewable energy transition is finally underway. The transition does not provide equal benefits to everyone, and it disproportionately impacts Indigenous Peoples lands and resources. Despite commitments to Indigenous rights norms from state authorities and corporate actors, Indigenous Peoples and their knowledge are often sidelined in decision-making processes that affect them. The article-based dissertation examines this gap between rights on paper and rights in practice through the study of two large-scale on-shore wind projects: the Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) project in Kenya and the Markbygden project in Sweden. It asks how key actors – e.g., local Indigenous People, project investors, state authorities, civil-society organizations – in these projects understand and contest Indigenous rights norms, and what shortcomings in the implementation of norms may ensue from such contestations. It has a particular focus on free, prior and informed consent (FPIC), a complex, contested Indigenous rights norm.ConclusionsThe dissertation illustrates that norms are not fixed; conflicts over norms persist and arise even after their institutionalization in treaties, declarations, or business standards. For instance, the sometimes-vague requirements of FPIC allow state and corporate actors, who control discursive, material, or institutional resources of power, the discretion to appropriate FPIC to suit their interests, resulting in variations in norm practices. Shortcomings in the implementation of Indigenous rights norms, due in part to lack of knowledge of and experience with them, may thus also be politically motivated. Indeed, rights norms are not a cure-all, as their impact to a large extent depends on who controls their implementation. In both the LTWP and Markbygden cases, FPIC was not respected, indicating that respect for Indigenous rights should nowhere be assumed. Theoretically, this finding challenges the notion within norm localization research that norms are more likely to be implemented when they ‘fit’ the context into which they are introduced.Recommendations It is key that no one is left behind in the energy transition. To that end, state authorities, developers, and investors must ensure proper consultation, consent, and address the long-term needs of local populations in renewable investments. Impact assessments should reflect in depth understanding of the local context, including colonial legacies, and consider cumulative impacts of existing and planned projects. Furthermore, it is important to remember that rights on paper may not be implemented, consultations alone do not constitute FPIC, and corporate social responsibility programs and compensations cannot compensate for rights violations. While this is especially important to consider when operating on the margins of the state, this applies in the Global North and South alike. There is thus a need to look beyond the Global North-South dichotomy. To prevent Indigenous Peoples from bearing the brunt of climate change and its mitigation, Indigenous rights, including their rights to self-determined development and FPIC, must be respected.

AB - As part of climate mitigation, a renewable energy transition is finally underway. The transition does not provide equal benefits to everyone, and it disproportionately impacts Indigenous Peoples lands and resources. Despite commitments to Indigenous rights norms from state authorities and corporate actors, Indigenous Peoples and their knowledge are often sidelined in decision-making processes that affect them. The article-based dissertation examines this gap between rights on paper and rights in practice through the study of two large-scale on-shore wind projects: the Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) project in Kenya and the Markbygden project in Sweden. It asks how key actors – e.g., local Indigenous People, project investors, state authorities, civil-society organizations – in these projects understand and contest Indigenous rights norms, and what shortcomings in the implementation of norms may ensue from such contestations. It has a particular focus on free, prior and informed consent (FPIC), a complex, contested Indigenous rights norm.ConclusionsThe dissertation illustrates that norms are not fixed; conflicts over norms persist and arise even after their institutionalization in treaties, declarations, or business standards. For instance, the sometimes-vague requirements of FPIC allow state and corporate actors, who control discursive, material, or institutional resources of power, the discretion to appropriate FPIC to suit their interests, resulting in variations in norm practices. Shortcomings in the implementation of Indigenous rights norms, due in part to lack of knowledge of and experience with them, may thus also be politically motivated. Indeed, rights norms are not a cure-all, as their impact to a large extent depends on who controls their implementation. In both the LTWP and Markbygden cases, FPIC was not respected, indicating that respect for Indigenous rights should nowhere be assumed. Theoretically, this finding challenges the notion within norm localization research that norms are more likely to be implemented when they ‘fit’ the context into which they are introduced.Recommendations It is key that no one is left behind in the energy transition. To that end, state authorities, developers, and investors must ensure proper consultation, consent, and address the long-term needs of local populations in renewable investments. Impact assessments should reflect in depth understanding of the local context, including colonial legacies, and consider cumulative impacts of existing and planned projects. Furthermore, it is important to remember that rights on paper may not be implemented, consultations alone do not constitute FPIC, and corporate social responsibility programs and compensations cannot compensate for rights violations. While this is especially important to consider when operating on the margins of the state, this applies in the Global North and South alike. There is thus a need to look beyond the Global North-South dichotomy. To prevent Indigenous Peoples from bearing the brunt of climate change and its mitigation, Indigenous rights, including their rights to self-determined development and FPIC, must be respected.

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